Combination endgate and feeding and spreading device for use on dump trucks



June 1, 1948. R. c. wEsTER 2,442,743

COMBINATION END GATE AND FEEDING AND SPREDING DEVICE FOR USE vON DUMP TRUCKS Filed March 22, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS l June l, 1948. R. c. wEsTER 2,442,743

COMBINATION END GATE AND FEEDING AND SPRFIDINGl DEVICE FOR USE ON DUMP TRUCKS Filed March 22, 1944 Y 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @QAM/MMM@ A TTORNEYS Patented june i, 1943 Coll/BINATION ENDGATEf; FElilDlliGrll` AND` SPREADING DEVICE' FOR USE` ON DUMP 'TRUCKS Ralph VC. Westen PlaimfCity; .Ohi0, ;,assignoi:sofg one-half to Gi KirbygllainCitypOhio Application MarchZZ, 1944, Serial No. 527,544y

2 Claims.-

1 My. invention relatesn to a combination-end-gate andfeeding and spreadingdevice for use on dumptrucks. It has to do, more particularly, withr'an end gate structure having a feeding 'andspread-V ing device connected thereto which=wi1l1 feedandI spread lime, fertilizer, seed, cinders, sandfcalcium chloride and vother similar materialsl from the dump body of the truck.

led October 29, 1942 (abandoned).

hasdevised improvements which'greatly add to the efficiency of the feeding and spreadingide-V vices which are combined in the presentY case.-

Applicant is also aware of various prior artfertilizer spreadersbut has found that they possess many disadvantages which'detract fromg-theirelcient operation. One of the main disadvantages of the prior art spreaders isV that it is nec,-

essary to have a man positioned in theback ofA the vehicle to keep shovelingthe material" intoA the spreader; As `was pointed yout vin vthe vcopending application this disadvantage is more'- acute today because of the shortage of farmlabor- Furthermore, the task of shoveling material. is unhealthful, and this is particularly true when the material being spread is lime or calcium vchlo ride. Another great disadvantage of the prior art through the opening to the spreader member and at the point where it is shoveled into the `spreader a greater deposit of the material was found and f thisnonuniform spreading results in a waste of material when a Ylarge acreage is being treated.

Another disadvantage ofthe prior Vart devices..

of this type is that none of them discloses a positively actuated centrifugal spreader of the .type

disclosed in the present application. In appli-V cants prior application it was found that the friction" spreader member lwhich isdragged be-Y neath the `truck was Wholly `inadequate because of the fact that it was too close tothe ground and also because rocks-and ruts invtheground tilted Y and sometimes overturned `Vthe small spreader member. Furthermore, it was found `that the centrifugal spreader member should rotate at a greater speed than the conveyer feeder member in the end gate. The spreader member hof the` co-pending application did not attaina wide ycoverage because of itsv speed and its locationcso close to the ground. While itsatised the needs" 2t. incertain regards, suchasA spreadingvcindersin: a road, it did not comeupito/expectations;inzuthe feeding of lime, fertilizer andseed.

Orn'eof;thi-:objects` of my invention isy to provide.-

al feeding device ior--fertilizing` or limingsa. field evenly with less labor than was required'. in: the past.

Another object ofi-my invention-iste provide a.- dump truck with' an end gatehavingmeansfor feedinglime-orsimilar material which is in:v no way unhealthful to the operator.

Anotherobjecte'offmy inventionA is to 'provide a A 'dump Mtruck having a feedingand-l spreading apparatuswhich coa'ts-a iieldwithlime, seed`;"or similar materialfinvsuchna mannerthat great: savings infmaterial are realized.; Y

Another object*of-my`invention is toprovide a. dump truck with; a` combination end 'gate' with: a 2 feeding apparatus which feeds the material to a gol" positivelyactuated centrifugal; spreader 'in anevenstream.

Another object ofwmy` invention-is to provide -a dump-truck with anfend-gate in combi-nation-with`V a feeding fdevice" and a #centrifugal-spreader which can' be l easily-rernovedefrom the-truckso as 'to allow the trucljto be used l`for other=purposes-v Another object of my 'invention` is to providein combination; feeding and 1 spreading members which `,derive-their ypower Ifron'r-the :rear axle fof;A the `truckandv'vvhichVA can be connected-Sto and: disconnectedv fromy the Aaxleby#means- -ldcatedin the front of i thejtruck-.I

Another `objectof my- -invention-is to 'providea feeder` and'fa'vspreader with-power-from the-samel source, yet ito-J operate the vspreader -at a greater speed than-the feeder;Vv

Anotherobject of m'yinventionfisto provide an end gatehavingin-combination with a feeder member-which willffeed ,material through an.. opening 'in the'rend gate and-the opening-may be .f so adjustedasto fe'edthe material-to eitherside': of aspreadermemberdisposed below ythe .open-- ing."V

AnotherV object-of my-inventionis to provide' paren-tyfroml the 1f ollowing description; thedrawr-` In itsvpreferredeform, invention: comprises-- an end gate which can be suitably-connectedi to*v a screw conveyer and an agitator which are driven by the driving mechanism of the truck. My invention also includes the combination of a positively actuated centrifugal spreader member disposed below an opening in the center and at the bottom of the end gate through which the material is fed. The conveyer, the agitator, and the spreader device are all operated by the same driving mechanism and the conveyer and agitator are operated at the same speed while the spreader member is operated at a greater speed than the agitator and conveyer. While I describe my invention as spreading fertilizer or lime, it is understood that it can be used for spreading sand, salt or cinders on icy roads or on city street corners. It can also be used in spreading calcium chloride to settle dust, as well as for seeding fields.

The preferred embodiment of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a dump truck with my combination end gate, feeding device and spreader member shown in association therewith.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view in section or the spreader member and the driving shaft for operating the same.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the spreader member.

Figure 4 is a rear end view of the gate partly broken away showing the feeder member, the agitator, the spreader member, and means for driving the aforementioned members.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the end gate showing the spreader device in association with the rear end of a dump truck.

Figure 6 is a top plan view showing one of the rear wheels of a truck with a clutching' mechanism associated therewith.

Figure '7 is a side elevational view of the wheel shown in Figure 6 illustrating the operating bar for operating the clutch shown in Figure 6.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I illustrate a dump truck of the conventional type with my end gate 2 and spreader unit 3 shown in association therewith. The end gate is of such a design and size that it may be readily attached to the rear of any dump truck with very little change in the structure of the conventional truck. Furthermore, the gate is adapted so that it may be easily and quickly removed if it is desired to use the truck for other purposes.

The end gate 2 is so constructed that it can be mounted on the rear end of the dump body of the truck in the manner shown in Figures 1 and 5. A pair of ear members 4 supported on the sides of the dump body of the truck and which extend outwardly therefrom permit the insertion of one end of the bracket members 5 which have holes formed therein and pin members 6 passed through the holes formed in the ear members 4 and the holes in the bracket 5, thus firmly holding the end gate in position. Since this structure is conventional for holding end gates of the usual design, very little change will have to be made in the truck to support the end gate. As in other end gates the hooked member 8 engages the pins 1 supported on the end gate and holds the bottom of the end gate against the body of the truck. The means just described firmly holds the end gate in position against all vibration and tendency to loosen during the operation of the feeding and spreading devices.

As in my co-pending application, I make use of the gravity feed of the material by raising the dump body of the truck in order to get the material to flow to the rear of the truck. The means which I use to feed the material to the opening in the end gate is also similar to that shown and described in my co-pending application. The feeding means comprises a screw conveyer 9 which is integrally formed on a transverse shaft I0 and supported in bearing members I I disposed in the side walls of the end gate structure. The conveyer 9 has right and left hand sections which are adapted to feed the material to the center of the end gate and away from the sides of the truck. Theright and left hand sections 9 are secured at their center by means of a coupling Y I2. Y I provide an agitator member I3 above the screw conveyer so as to break up lumps and clods of the 'material being fed previous to engagement by the conveyer. The agitator member consists of a shaft I3a having finger members I4 projecting therefrom and having their outer ends connected by a ribbon or bar Ida. The shaft I3a is supported by bearing members I6 and the one end thereof has a sprocket 22 keyed thereon.

The feeding member 9, the agitator I3, and the centrifugal spreader unit 3 are all powered from the rear axle of the truck. This is accomplished by rotating the shaft I0 which extends through both side walls of the end gate and has sprockets keyed thereon. On the left hand side of the shaft I9 on the outer end thereof is keyed a sprocket I1 which is driven by means of a chain I8 which has its one terminal around a sprocket I9 mounted on the rear axle of the truck. Also keyed on the shaft I0 on the left hand side of the truck is another sprocket 20 which has a chain 2I for engaging the sprocket 22 keyed on the shaft I 3a of the agitator member. Thus, when the shaft I0 is rotated by reason of the sprockets I1, I9 and the chain I8 the sprockets 20 and 22 will also turn because of the chain member 2I connecting the two. On the right hand end of shaft I 0 a sprocket 23 is keyed and a chain 24 engages this sprocket as well as a sprocket 25 which is supported on a horizontal shaft which is connected to the centrifugal spreader unit. This unit and its operation will be described hereinafter.

Referring back to the left hand side of the shaft I0 it will be noted that as the dump truck is raised there will be a, tendency for the chain IIB to become loose by reason of the fact that the sprockets I1 and I9 are moved closer together. Therefore, it is necessary to have a take-oil' device for engaging the chain I8 when the sprockets are moved relative to each other. To remedy this I provide an L-shaped arm 2B which has its one end supported in a bearing member 21 carried on the rear wall of the end gate and has its other end adjacent the chain I8 ywith a sprocket member 28 carried thereon for actually engaging said chain at all times. A tension spring `29 which has its upper end anchored on the side of the dump body as at 30 has its other end connected to the arm member 26 at 3I. Thus when the dump body is raised the spring 29 will tend to pull the arm 26 upwardly as shown in Figure 1.

The truck can be operated with the driving mechanism disconnected from the feeder and spreader units but when it is desired to start feeding the material a simple clutching mechanism is actuated to transmit power to the feeding and spreading units. Referring paraggarga 33, carries the moving part Yof the jaw clutch 34 that is integrally formed 1 on the Sprocket` la. The clutch 34is normally held out of engagement from the clutch 32 b-y meansof 'the springmember, '35, The` extension of the axle 33 'projects through a slot 3S formed on 'a link member ,31. The sprocket I9v will be rotated; v'vhenever,the clutch; '32; is in engagement' wan the clutch 31:,n To foree'the suding'nalf of the' e1utch'34into engagement with the stationary half 32, I provide a Wedging portion 38 on the link 31. Thus, when the link is moved forward by means of the lever 39 as shown in Figure 1, the clutch 34 will be forced inwardly and engage the clutch 32. This is caused by the wedging action of member 33. The lever 39 is supported on a horizontal stub shaft 40 which also has a rocker arm 4I pivotally connected to the link 3.1. The stub shaft 40 is carried by the bearing member 42 which is suitably bolted on the running board of the truck. It is not believed essential to give a more detailed description of the clutching mechanism since it is of conventional form and is operated in the usual manner. When the clutch is in operating relationship with the wheel and axle of the truck the sprocket I9 will rotate thus operating the chain I8 which in turn operates the sprocket I1 on the shaft I0.

The operation of the centrifugal spreader unit is also controlled by the shaft I0 which is operated as previously described. Referring to Figures 2, 4 .and 5, I will now describe the operation of the centrifugal spreaderl unit 3. The spreader housing 42 is carried by the chassis of the truck by means of the supporting brackets 43, The unit is preferably supported at the center of the truck so that the opening 44 in the end gate coincides therewith. The size of the opening 44 can be regulated by means of the levers 45 which slidably move the members 46 in trackways 46a on the end gate.

The centrifugal spreader member comprises a circular housing 42 previously discussed which is supported by the brackets 43 on the chassis of the truck. A guard member 42a is provided and is attached to the outside housing -42 and protects the rear wheels of the truck. Below and in line with this housing is a spreader disk 4I. as shown in Figure 2, which is provided with vane members 48 that are carried on the upper surface of the disk 41 and aid in the distribution of the material being fed to the housing 42 from the opening in the end gate. As was previously described, the sprocket 25 which is keyed on the horizontal shaft 49 is actuated by means of the chain 24 `and sprocket 23 carried on the shaft; I9. Due to the fact that the chain 24 is of a short length and because the pivot of the dump body at this point is very slight, it is not necessary to provide a take-up device as in connection with the chain I8. The shaft 49 is positioned inside a grease retaining housing v53 and has a bearing housing 5I on its outer end and a bearing housing 52 on its inner end. The inner end of the shaft carries a bevel gear 53 which meshes with a bevel gear 54 supported on the upper end of the vertical shaft 55. The lower end of the shaft 55 is suitably con- 6, eeneaieieasl? 'Ceder d The;^`v aft's W., ransmtf, thaliqverref. in the Ysprock ceivd fro et` and chain 25 and 24,.

renegar/ely tether/grupal shaft 5,5. thfoughh means Qf; the berelgearsi and-54. This powerA willoperate the spreader diskgilatha'greater' speed thehgconxveyerand agitatorV because of the Vdifference in "sizeof the sprockets 23 and 25. The operation of the disk 41 at the increased speed is necessary to get a wider throw of the material being fed.

The operation of my device will be apparent from the previous description but it is thought advisable to cover it generally at this time. As was previously indicated the feeding of the material from the truck and end gate structure can be accomplished by the driver of the truck at the front of the truck. The driver can operate the clutching mechanism by the lever 39, thus throwing the clutch in engagement so as to actuate the sprockets I9 and I1 through the medium of the chain I8, thus turning the shaft ID which has sprockets 20 and 23 keyed thereon which in turn are connected to sprockets 22 and 25 by means of the chains 2l and 24, respectively. The agitator I3 is thus actuated and at the same time power is transmitted to the spreader disk 41 through the sprocket 25, the horizontal shaft 49, the bevel gears 53 and 54, and the vertical shaft 55. Since the gearing is reduced between the sprocket 25 and the disk 41, it will run at a greater speed than the agitator I3 or the screw conveyer 9. It will be apparent from the above description, the drawings, and the following claims that I provide a feeder and spreader device which has many advantages over those of the prior art.

While I have described my device as being run from the rear axle of the truck, it is understood that a separate driving connection could be made which would still come within the scope of my invention. My invention further encompasses the idea of a separate power unit other than the power unit of the truck which could be used instead of the means which I describe. a

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination with a truck having a dump body, an end gate having end walls, means for removably attaching the end gate to the rear portion of the dump body, said end gate having an opening formed in the lower part thereof, a screw conveyer supported by the end gate adjacent said opening, an agitator also supported by the end gatev and located above said conveyer, a centrifugal spreader located below the opening in said end gate and supported by the chassis of the truck, a sprocket for driving said conveyer, a second sprocket for driving said agitator, a sprocket carried on an extension of the rear axle, a sprocket chain engaging and cooperating with the sprocket on the axle and the sprocket on the conveyer, a second sprocket carried on the conb d andgdisassembled.

ve'ye'r shaft, a chain for cooperating with the sprocket of the agitator and the saidsecondnamed sprocket on the conveyer shaft. a. third sprocket located on the conveyer shaft, a sprocket for driving the centrifugal spreader unit, a chain for driving said last-*named sprockets and means comprising a clutch for engaging the sprocket carried on the extension of the axle of the truck so that said sprocket Will be driven, thus driving the chain to the sprocket of the conveyer, said other previously mentioned sprockets being driven when the conveyer sprocket is driven, thus operating the agitator, the conveyer and the centrifugal spreader member from a single source of power.

2. A structure according to claim 1 wherein a lever is provided for actuating the clutch from the front end of the truck. v

" RALPH C. WESTER.

8, REFERENCES crrm rl'hf'afollowing references are of record in th le of this patent:

UNITED STATES- PATENTS 

